From Parks and Rec to Peak Horror: Meet the Cast of Damian McCarthy’s Hokum and Why You Need to Watch It Now

HOLLYWOOD — Stop endlessly scrolling through your watchlists because the only thing that actually matters this weekend has finally hit the big screen.

If you haven’t heard the name Hokum yet, get ready to see it plastered all over your feed.

Yesterday’s massive theatrical release is the latest masterclass in atmospheric dread from Damian McCarthy, the visionary director who previously gave us the chilling Oddity.

This isn’t your typical jump-scare-a-minute fluff; it is a grounded, gritty, and deeply sarcastic journey into the heart of Irish folklore. Whether you are a die-hard horror junkie or just here for a cast that defines peak television energy, Hokum is the only ticket worth your time this weekend.

Why Irish Folk Horror is Dominating Our Screens Right Now

My selection process for this list is about more than just star power; it is about the DNA of Cool. I am looking at how these actors carry the weight of a script that feels as much like a character study as it does a ghost story.

We are currently in a cultural moment where vibe and authenticity matter more than a CGI monster.

I have chosen to highlight this cast because they represent the perfect bridge between mainstream prestige TV and the avant-garde horror scene.

This movie proves that you don’t need a massive superhero budget to rattle someone’s bones. Before we jump into the names, tell me: are you more of a Ghost in the Machine fan or a witch in the woods person?

Adam Scott as Ohm Bauman

Platform/Where to Watch: In Theaters (NEON Release)
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Genre: Supernatural Horror / Folk Horror
Director: Damian McCarthy
Main Cast: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot

Adam Scott is doing something here we haven’t seen since his Severance days—blending deep, existential grief with a layer of dry, almost toxic sarcasm.

He plays Ohm Bauman, a successful American author who retreats to a remote, run-down Irish hotel to scatter his parents’ ashes. But Ohm isn’t your standard, shaking-in-his-boots hero. He is a prick. He is skeptical, abrasive, and openly dismissive of the locals’ legends regarding a 400-year-old witch held captive in the hotel’s honeymoon suite.

This character feels like a modern evolution of the eternal loneliness we see in icons like Thomas Shelby—a man who has pushed everyone away and is now forced to face the only thing that won’t leave: his own trauma.

Critics are already calling this his best work to date, with MovieWeb handing it a 4/5 and noting that his pursed lips and aggressive manner make him the perfect fall-guy for a haunting.

The film has already pulled in a solid $900,000 in early box office reports, which is a massive win for a specialized NEON release. On Rotten Tomatoes, it is sitting comfortably with a Fresh score, with fans at the SXSW premiere reporting they screamed themselves hoarse.

Peter Coonan as Mal

Platform/Where to Watch: In Theaters
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Genre: Supernatural Horror
Director: Damian McCarthy
Main Cast: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan

If you loved Love/Hate, you already know Peter Coonan brings a certain quiet menace to everything he touches.

Here, he plays Mal, the front desk clerk at the Bilberry Woods Hotel. He is the gatekeeper of the hotel’s secrets and the primary antagonist to Ohm’s modern cynicism.

Mal isn’t just a clerk; he is the embodiment of the quiet realism that makes Irish horror so unsettling. He doesn’t need to jump out at you; he just needs to stand there and look at you like he knows exactly when you are going to die. It is that same insecure male lens we see in psychological thrillers, where the horror comes from what is left unsaid in a conversation.

Early reviews from The Guardian highlight Coonan as a standout who adds texture and personality to the increasingly strange world of the inn. His presence helps ground the Hokum lore, turning what could be a simple witch story into something that feels dangerously real.

David Wilmot as Jerry

Platform/Where to Watch: In Theaters
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Genre: Supernatural Horror
Director: Damian McCarthy
Main Cast: Adam Scott, David Wilmot

David Wilmot is a legend of the supporting-to-veteran pipeline, recently seen in the masterpiece The Banshees of Inisherin.

In Hokum, he plays Jerry, a wacky hermit who lives in a van and drinks shroom-based smoothies. He is the total wild card of this movie.

While Ohm represents the cynical modern world, Jerry represents the chaotic, primal energy of the Irish woods. He pushes Ohm into deeply dangerous decisions in search of an impossible truth. He is almost like the Joker of the hotel grounds—not because he wants to burn the world down, but because he is a nihilist who believes the rules of the real world don’t apply once you step into the witch’s territory.

His performance is being hailed as entertainingly bizarre. Critics have noted that while the plot can feel a bit fragmented, the chemistry between Wilmot and Scott keeps the audience totally locked in. It is a 3.5/5 experience for anyone who likes their horror with a side of psychedelic weirdness.

Florence Ordesh as Fiona

Platform/Where to Watch: In Theaters
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Genre: Supernatural Horror
Director: Damian McCarthy
Main Cast: Adam Scott, Florence Ordesh

Fiona is the bartender who acts as the film’s moral compass, or at least its only sane anchor.

She is indifferent to Ohm’s celebrity status but quickly senses the unacknowledged pain he is carrying. In a world of missing women and boarded-up honeymoon suites, Fiona is the bridge that keeps the audience from drifting away into total nihilism. Her role explores the themes of misogyny and lore that often haunt folk horror, making her much more than just a supporting character—she is a witness to the tragedy unfolding.

Reviews have specifically mentioned her grounded performance as a necessary counter to Scott’s dour and grumpy protagonist. She helps Hokum move beyond simple allegory and into a straight ghost story that actually feels personal.

The Authoritative Verdict

Look, if you want a breezy weekend watch, Hokum is absolutely not it. This is a movie for people who want to feel the icy finger dragging down their spine while they sit in a dark theater.

Damian McCarthy has proven once again that he is a master of building tension and subverting our expectations.

With Adam Scott officially moving from supporting actor to a genuine industry veteran lead, the film has the star power to match its eerie ambition. It is a nerve-shredding, bone-rattling good time.

Whether you are intrigued by the Irish folklore or just want to see Adam Scott play a prick who finally gets what’s coming to him, Hokum is a certified must-watch.
Barkha Jha, Journalist

Between the nihilistic author and the shroom-smoothie hermit, who do you think is actually more likely to survive the witch in the Honeymoon Suite? Drop your wild theories in the comments!